Can valve assembling machine



1937- A. KRONQUEST 2,089,126

CAN VALVE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1937. A. KRONQUEST CAN VALVE ASSEMBLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1936 d a: rg d Wm *WZG,

3 A. L. KRONQUEST 2,089,126

CAN VALVE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. BY 1 C izm wf ATTORNEYS 19370 A. L. KRONQUEST 2,089,126

CAN VALVE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 1937- A. 1.. KRONQUEST 2,089,126

CAN VALVE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES CAN vALvE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Alfred L. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc'., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 4, 193 s, Serial'No. 109,184

' Claims. (01. 113- -1) I Also mounted on the plate In, is a chute I5 This invention relates tojnew and useful im provements in a machine for inserting valves in can ends, which are adapted to-be used, for example, in cheese cans.

In the manufacture of valved cans, it is customary to provide the can'end with acentral vent, which is covered and normally closed by an elastic valve of rubber or the like, so that gases evolved within the can arepermitted to escape. The can end is die stamped to forma circular central recess. The valve is first secured within a dished valv'e bodywith a peripheral flange, which is then forcedinto the recess in the can end and secured therein. An example of a can end of this type-is shown in Patent'No. 1,950,327, issued March 6, 1934, to William F. Punte. l

An object of the present invnetion is'to provide a machine in which thezpreviously formed valve body with the valve therein is automatical-v ly inserted and secured in the previously formed can end. m' 4 A further object of the'invention is to provide mechanism which may be associated with a conventional type of punch press for assembling and securing the valve bodies within the recessed can ends.

It is also an object of the invention to provide automatic feeding mechanism for the can'ends and the valve bodies,in connection with the mechanism for assembling the same.

The invention also includes various details of construction and novel combinations, the purpose and operation of which will be specifically explained in connection'with the accompanying drawings and subsequently'claimed.

In the drawings, I

- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a punch press with the invention mounted thereon. r

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dies whichare mounted on the'punch press, and the mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 3is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of'Fig. 2. R

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central sectional view of the final assembly die in closed position.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same in position. v

In carrying out the invention, a die. plate It! is secured to the bed llof the punch-pressl'r. A can end feeding unit is mounted on the plate Ill and includes posts I3 adapted to receivebetween them a stackof can ends I4. I

open

adapted to operate the feeding mechanism hereinafterdescribed. In the course of this opera- ,tion, a can end I4 is first fedto station A, where the central dome portion thereof is treated with oil, glycerine or the like. It is next fed to station B, where the valve body [6 is placed therein. It is then fed to station C, where it is crimped to secure the valve in place, after which the completed end is released from the machine.

gThe length of the pitman l9 may be adjusted at 20 to adjust the position of the feeding mechanism and the length of the throw may be adjusted by adjusting the pin-l8 longitudinally in the slot 2|.

For actuating the feeding mechanism, the lower end of the pitman I9 is connected by a pin 22-to one end of a bell crank 23, which is pivotally mounted at 24 on a bracket 25 secured ,to the die plate Ill. The other end of the bell crank 23 is connected by a pin 26 to one end of a link 21, the other end of which is connected at 28 to a slide 29 mounted in aslideway 30 secured to the plate Ill.

The stack of can ends I4 is normally supported by movable lugs 3i at the'base of the posts [3. A link-32v is connected at one end by a pin 33-130 theslide 29 and is connected at its other. end by a pin 34 carried by an arm 35 projecting from the usual ring which operates the lugs 3|, each time the slide 29 is reciprocated, to release one can end and permit it to slide down a chute to station A. This mechanism for releasing the can ends is of the same general type asthat disclosed in the patent to George Flock, #1,864,422, issued June 21, 1932. The arm 35 is protected by a housing 4| which is secured to theplate Ill and is provided with an arcuate slot 42 through which the pin 34 extends.

The can end is advancedby successive steps from station A to station B and thence to station C by a carriage 43, which reciprocates in a slideway 44. A pin 45, secured to this carriage, extends downwardly through a slot 46 in the bottom of the slideway and is connected by a link 41 to the end of an arm 48, which is secured to the lower endof a rock shaft 49 journaled in an arm vances the can end along the track 56 to station The can end is accurately centered at station 13 50 projecting from the die plate I0. An arm 5|, secured to the upper end of the rock shaft 49, is connected to the slide 29 by a link 52, so that the reciprocation of the slide 29 causes a corresponding reciprocation of the carriage 43. The length of the link 52 may be adjusted by means of a turnbuckle 53, in order to adjust the travel of the carriage v43 to the proper distance.

It will be understood thatwhen a can end is delivered to station A, it is immediately in front of a dog 54, which is pivotally mounted on the carriage 43 and held normally in raised position by a spring 55. After the required operation has been completed at station A, the carriage ad- B. As the carriage is retracted, the spring 55 yields and allows the dog to pass beneath the next can end, which has in the meantimebee'n delivered to station A.

by spring heldpins 51 which engage the edge thereof at one side of the track 56, while the op: posite edge is frictionally engaged by a shoe-58', which isyieldingly held by a spring 59. Upon the next advance ofthe carriage'43, a second dog'BD', yieldingly held by a spring GI, engages and advances the can end' from station B to station C, while the next can end is advanced from station A to' station B.

The mechanism for performing the various operations on the can ends at the respective staftions will now be described. This mechanism is actuated by a ram 62, shown in broken lines in Fig. 3' and reciprocated in the usual manner.

A sight feed oiler 63 is ca'rriedat the upper end of a drip tube 64' which is reciprocably mounted ma bearing 65 located dirctly above'stati'on A on a bracket 66 secured tothe plate I 0'. The lower end of the tube'carries a pad 61. A rock shaft 68, mounted in a bearing 69 formed on the bracket 66, has at one end an arm I0 engageable by a pin 1 I, which is adjustably mounted in a bracket arm I2 secured to the ram 62. A cross arm 13' at the other end of the rock shaft 68 has at one end a spanner I4 with opposed pins I5 which engage a groove I6 located circumferentially of the drip tube 64. The other end of the cross arm is connected by a tension spring 11 to a fixed point on the plate I 0. Thus it will be understood that when the ram 62 descends, the pad 61, which is saturated with oil, glycerine or the like, moistens the dome-shaped center of the can end and, when the ram is retracted, thespring I'I' restores the oiler to its initial position. This oiling of the can end prevents the rubber in the valve from subsequently sticking thereto when gas is passing out of the can and also forms a tight seal to prevent passage of air into the can if any vacuum should be created on the inside thereof. Directly above station B, a plunger 18' is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in a bearing I9 formedin a bracket 89 securedto the plate ID. The plunger -I8 has an"enlarged elongated head 83 formed thereon. A pin 8| adjustably mounted, in the bracket I2 strikes the upper end of theplunger, forcing it-downwardly, as the ram 52 descends. A spring 82 returns the plunger to its initial position, as soon as the ram is retracted. I

The valve bodies I6, with the valves previously assembled thereon, descend by gravity down the chute, I5, until they strike the plunger, head 83 which acts as a stop. for their movement down the chute. the plunger rises, the foremost valve passes beneath the plunger head and is engaged by the dogs 84 yieldingly held by the springs 85 until the plunger descends and forces the valve body into the recess provided therefor in the can end, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The movement of each succeeding valve is arrested by the plunger head 83 until the cycle of operation is performed and the plunger head rises to permit another valve to pass beneath the same. When the plunger is retracted, the can end with the valve body therein is advanced to station C by the dog 60 while the dog 54 advances the next can end to station B and the succeeding valve body is advanced into the seat 83. As the carriage 43 is retracted, the spring 6| yields to permit the dog 60 to pass beneath the can end now centered at-station B.

At station C the can end, here designated as I 4", with the valve therein, is centered above a lower die secured to the plate l0 and beneath an upper die 9| secured directly to the ram 52. The base of the die; 90' is centrally secured to'the platelil' by 'a machinescrew"92. This base is formed with a central boss 93, about which an annulus 94 is disposed with a peripheral shoulder 95. About this annulus a retaining ring 96 is secured bymachine bolts 91 to the base of the die 90 and: is formed'with an internal shoulder'98 adapted tov engage: the shoulder and :limit the upward movement of the annulus 94 under the influenceof springs 99"seated therebeneath.

The upper-die 9| carries a plunger I00 which is reciprocably' mounted in a cylindrical recess IOI. A retaining lring l02, 'secured to the die by machine bolts I03,:has"an'inte'rnal shoulder I 04 which is engaged by the peripheral shoulder I05 of the plunger, when the'latter is'in raised :po'sition, by reason of the pressure of a springJlIB seated in therecess Ill'I. When the plunge'r is thusseated, an annular 'fiangeIOI, which defines a'ci'rcular recess I08"therein, projects belowthe ring I02: 7 1'1" 1 As the die 9| descends, the recess I08 receives the crowned center'of the valve body and the peripheral fiangeof'the'body is 'engaged by the flange I01" of the plunger and forced into the recessed can end, designatedfl 'in Figs. 5 and 6. At the same time, the elastic valve disk is stretched over the perforated dome-shaped center offthecan end. The spring IDS is compressed by the resistance offered'to the descent of the plunger I00 and the metal of the canend is crimpedover the peripheral'fiang'e of the valve bodyby the joint action of the beveled edge of the boss 93 andthe undercut beveled edge of the ring" I02 adjacent the flange IO'I'. Notches' I09 are also provided'inthe lower die to form channels H0 in the can end I4 about the edge of the valve body'ifor permitting the es'cape'of gases released by the valve.

It will be noted that depending pawls III are piv'otally mounted at H2 onthe die 9i within keepers H3 and are normally held vertically by springs I I4. As the upper die descends, the pawls pass into recesses I I5 at the sides of the lower die and theinclined edges I I ii ofth'e'pawls' ride over the edge of the can end. 'When the upper die is retracted, the teeth III engage and lift the completed'can end'from the lower die, so that'it drops from the teeth III to the'inclined face of the bed, over which it slides by gravity and is dischargedfrom' the machine while the next can end is advanced to position C; i

From the foregoing description; it will be understood that the operation of the machine'i's wholly automatic. The stackof can-ends His released one by oneand fed by gravity through the chute 40 to station-A. This feeding takes place during the retraction of the ram 62. Upon the next descent 'of the ram this can end is treated by the oiling pad 61.

During each retraction of the ram, a can end is also advanced by the carriage 43 from station A to station E and a valve body is fed by gravity and centered over the same. At the same time, the carriage 43 advances a can end from station B to station C, while the previously completed'can end at station 0 is discharged. While the can end at station A is oiled, the same stroke of the ram places the valve in the recessed can end at station B and at the same time crimps the can end at station C to secure the valve therein.

Although I have described in detail the construction and operation of the machine in its present embodiment, it is to be understood that this is only for the purpose of illustration and that the invention also embraces all such modifications as may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An assembling machine comprising means for feeding can ends one by one, the can end being previously formed with a central valve seat, means for applying an oily substance to the valve seat, means for subsequently inserting a valve in the seat, .and means for crimping themetal of the can end about the edge of the valve body to secure it in such position.

2. An assembling machine comprising a reciprocable ram, means operable in synchronism with the ram to advance previously preparedcan ends formed with valve seats one by one successively to several stations during successive retractions of the ram, means for centering a previously prepared valve body over each can end, and means operable by the active stroke of 'the ram to apply an oily substance to the valve seat at one station, to force the valve body against the valve seat at another station and to crimp the metal of the can end about the edge of the valve body at a succeeding station.

3. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of means operable by said pitman to feed can ends formed with countersunk valve seats one by one and to center a previously prepared valve body over each valve seat, and means operable by said ram to secure the valve body against the seat.

4. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of means operable by said pitman to feed can endsformed with countersunk valve seats one by one and to center a previously prepared valve body over each valve seat, and means operable by said ram to crimp the metal of the can end about the edge of the valve body to secure the same against .the seat.

5. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of means operable by said pitman to individually feed can ends with previously formed countersunk valve seats and to center a previously prepared valve body over the valve seat in each can end, and means operable by said ram to force the valve body into the seat and to crimp the metal of the can end over the rim of the valve body to secure the same to said seat.

6. The combination with the power shaft of a punch presshaving a pitman and a' ram operable bysaid shaft, of means operable by said pitman to individually feed can ends with previously formed valve seats to a plurality of successive'stations and to center a previously prepared valve body over the valve seat in each can end as it arrives at the second station, and means operable'by the ram to apply an oily substance tothe valve seat at the first station, to force-tho valve body into its seat at the second station and to crimp the metal of the can end over the rim of the valve body at a subsequent station.

'7. The combination with the power shaft of a punch'press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of a reciprocable slide operable by said pitman, means actuated by the movement ofthe slide in one direction to feed a can end formed centrally with a valve seat step by step to a plurality of stations and to center a valve over the can end at one of said stations, and means actuated by the ram, during the movement of the slide in the opposite direction, to force the valve against the valve seat at one station and to crimp the metal of the can end about th edge of the valve at another station.

8. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of a reciprocable slide operablev by said pitman, means actuated by the movement of the slide in one direction to feed a can end havinga perforated recess step by step to a plurality of stations and to center a valve over the can end at the second station, means actuated by the ram to apply an oily substance to the bottom of the recess in the can end during its dwell at the first station, and means also actuated by the ram to force the valve into the recess in the can end during its dwell at the second station and to crimp the metal of the can end about the edge of the valve during its dwell at'a third station.

9. In an assembling machine, upper and lower dies, a reciprocable ram to which the upper die is secured, means for centering between the dies 2. can end with a central valve seat and a'valve seated thereon, the lower die being provided with a yieldable annulus about the position occupied by said valve seat when thus centered, the upper die being provided with a yieldable center with a downwardly projecting peripheral flange engageable with the rim of the valve body, means to operate the ram to force the dies together, and means cooperating with said peripheral flange to crimp the metal of the can end about therim of the valve body.

10. In an assembling machine, upper and lower dies, a reciprocable ram to which the upper die-is secured, means for centering between the dies a can end with a central valve seat and a valve seated thereon, means to operate the ram to force the dies together, means cooperating with the meeting faces of the dies to crimp the metal of the can end about the rim of the valve body, and pawls carried by the 'upp'er'die and engageable with opposite edges of the can end to discharge the same as the ram is retracted.

11. In an assembling machine, upper and lower dies, a reciprocable ram to which the upper die is secured, means for centering between the dies a can end with a central valve seat and a valve seated thereon, the lower die being provided with a yieldable annulus about the position occupied by said valve seat when thus centered, the upper die being provided with a yieldable center iii) with a. downwardly projecting peripheral flange engageablewith the rim of the valve body, means to operate the ram to force the dies together, means cooperating with said peripheral flange to crimp the metal of the can end about the rim of the valve body, and pawls carriedrby the upper die and engageable with opposite edges of the can end to discharge the same as the ram is retracted.

12. An assembling machine comprising means for feeding can ends one by one, the can ends being each previously formed with a central recess having a dome-shaped bottom with a hole therein, means for centering a valve body over each can end, the valve body being in the form of 'a cap with an elastic disk constituting its inner face, and means for securing the valve body withinithe recess in the can end with the elastic disk stretched over the hole in the dome.

13. An assembling machine comprising means for feeding can ends one by one, the-can ends being each previously formed with a central recess having a dome-shaped perforated bottom, means for positioning in the recess of each can end a previously prepared valve body consisting of ;a cap with an ela'sticldisk constituting its inner face, the elastic disk being stretched over-the dome=shaped bottom of the recess when the valveis thus positioned, and means for crimping the metal of the can end over the edge of the valve body to secure it in such position.

: -14. An assembling machine comprising means for feeding previously prepared can ends singly step by step, the can ends being each formed with a central recess having a dome-shaped perforated bottom,.means for centering over the recess'of each can end a previously prepared valve body consisting of a cap with an elastic disk constituting its inner face, a reciprocable ram, means carried-by the ram to secure the valve body in the recess of the can end with the disk stretched overthe dome-shaped bottom thereof, and synchronizingmeans to cause the advance of the can end and valve body to take place while the ram is, being retracted.

15.'An assembling machine comprising a reciprocable ram, means operable in synchronism with. the ram to advance previously prepared can ends one by one successively to several stations during successive retractions of the ram, thecan ends being each formed with a central recess having a dome-shaped bottom with a hole therein, means for centering over the recess of each can end a previously prepared valve body consisting of a cap with an elastic disk constituting its inner face, and means operable by the active stroke of the ram to force the valve body into the recess at one station and at a subsequent station to crimp the metal of the can end about the rim of the valve body with the disk stretched over the hole in the dome-shaped bottom of the recess.

16. The combination with the power shaft of azpunch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of means operable by the pitman to feed one by one can ends whichhave each been previously formed with a central recess, having a domeeshapedperforated bottom, and to center over each can. end a valve body in the form of a cap, with, an elastic diskconstituting its inner face, and means operable by the ram to secure the valve body within the recess in the can end with the elastic disk stretched over the perforated dome.

17. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a ram operable by said shaft, of means operable by said pitman, to feed one by one can ends which have eachqbeen previously formed with a perforated central recess and to center a, previously prepared valve body within the recess of the can end, and a die carried by the ram and having a yieldable circular element insertable within the wallet said recess and'into clamping relation to the rim of the valve body as the ram descends, and means on the die to crimp the metal of said wall over said rim.

18. The combination with the power shaft of a punch press having a pitman and a. ram oper-,

means to crimp. the metal of the can end over.

the rim, of the valve body to secure the same as it is held against the seat.

19. The combination with the power shaft of a'punch'press having a pitman and a ram operable by'said shaft, of means operable by said pitman to feed can ends formed with countersunk valve seats-one by one andto center a previouslyprepared valve body over each valve seat, and means operable by said ram to crimp the metal of the can-end overthe rim of the valve body to secure the latter toits seat and at the same time to form radial channels to permit gases released by thevalve, when the can end is secured to a can body, to escape to the atmosphere.

20. man as's'emblingmachine, upper and lower dies, a reciprocable ram to'which the upper die is secured, means for centering between the dies a can end with a central valve seat and a valve seated thereon, means to operate the ram to force the dies together, and means co-operating with the meeting faces of the dies to crimp the metal of the can end about the rim of the valve body and at the same time to form radial channels to permit gases released by the valve, when the can end is secured to a can body, to escape to the atmosphere.

ALFRED L. KRONQUEST. 

